49ers believe Moss will be a threat this season

So far this offseason, it's been all about Randy. When the 49ers opened up a workout to the media, everyone focused on Moss, who looked very much like his deadly, home-run hitting self. Moss moved with his characteristic long stride and highlighted the afternoon by catching a 50-yard bomb from quarterback Alex Smith.

After the voluntary practice, Moss escaped without talking to the media, saying his work was done and he was going home. But plenty of others spoke for him, including head coach Jim Harbaugh. "Randy has been outstanding in every way. And it's neat to watch our players watch a guy like Randy that they've watched growing up," Harbaugh said.

During the workout, Moss was demonstrating some footwork for the younger players. Moss has also struck up a quick friendship with Michael Crabtree, the embattled former top-round choice who all but disappeared in the playoffs last year.

Moss and Crabtree typically work out together in the early morning conditioning group and they compete against each other in drills. Safety Donte Whitner, who also works out in that group said Moss looks as fast as ever, and Whitner should know. As a safety for the Bills during Moss' years with New England, Whitner saw Moss twice a season for four years.

"It really makes you nervous when you are over on his side or over the top of him," Whitner said. "You know a lot of safeties will be playing 20 to 30 yards past the line of scrimmage, which should open up the running game even more than last year. ... He's going to not only help us catching the football or taking the top off the defense, he's going to help get that extra guy out of the box and allow (the running backs) to pound it on the ground."

If Moss becomes a threat, he changes the calculus of the 49ers' offense. But will he be engaged? Moss' slide into mediocrity in 2010 began after his Patriots beat the Bengals in the opener. Moss then said that he wasn't appreciated in New England and that people in New England didn't want him to do well. The Patriots then traded him to the Vikings. He finished his disappointing 2010 season with the Titans.

A report out of New England recently said that Brady no longer trusted Moss to fight for passes toward the end of his Patriots' tenure.

In San Francisco, everyone is invested in Moss doing well, and he might not need to fight for Alex Smith's passes. As Whitner suggests, as long as Moss draws double teams then the rest of the offense is free to play their 10 players against the defense's nine. And since the 49ers are only paying Moss $1.75 million in base salary, that's the only thing Moss might need to do.

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NFL Team Report - San Francisco 49ers - NOTES, QUOTES

--Saints quarterback Drew Brees encouraged Alex Smith to see sports psychologist and former major league pitcher Tom House, who helped Smith with his mechanics. However, Brees said House's advice on his mechanics was minimal and instead House helped Brees become more of a leader.

"I was too nice a guy, as a leader," Brees said. "I had this tendency that if people were doing things wrong, I would try to make up for it instead of calling them out. And that will burn you out." Smith has already tried to shed his nice-guy image. He trash-talked the Saints last year in the divisional win and is starting to yell at his linemen.

--This revelation from former Giants tight end Mark Bavaro: When the Giants kicked the 49ers out of the 1991 playoffs, kicker Matt Bahr had such a bad concussion, he had to be led out onto the field. Bahr booted a 42-yard field goal that ended the 49ers' quest for a third straight Super Bowl title.

--Safety Donte Whitner wanted to clarify an incident just in case observers got the wrong impression. While cruising Santana Row, a popular San Jose section of bars and clubs, defensive end Ray McDonald was seen knocking down linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Whitner said it was a harmless slap fight. "It might have looked like a fight, but it wasn't," Whitner said.

--The 49ers called upon the media to join a focus group about the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. Hall of Fame, which will be a part of the new stadium. The plan is for a 15,000 square foot space to house 49ers memorabilia and act as a museum of the team's past, which will include the team's four Super Bowl trophies.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He was my favorite player since I started playing football. I would hate to say this, but he's like an older version of me." - 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree talking about Randy Moss on the team's website.

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NFL Team Report - San Francisco 49ers - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Just like last year, the 49ers have lost a draft pick for the season before the season even starts. Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming, a fifth-round pick, tore his ACL during the first day of a three-day minicamp. Fleming was expected to compete for a spot on special teams and possibly be a third-down pass rusher.

Last year, cornerback Curtis Holcomb tore his Achilles tendon during a conditioning drill on the first day of training camp. The former seventh-round pick is expected to be fully recovered by training camp this year.

The 49ers signed six of their seven draft picks. The only one not to sign yet is top pick A.J. Jenkins.